Chemical useage & its effects on workers

[Green Printer]

Common sense prevails. That particular Quick clean solvent is no longer to be used in the factory again.
I printed out the list of risk phrases and some medical info and presented it to the production manager.
It seems writing speaks louder then words.
The health implications from this particular product is frightening and once management realised that it's not just the press guy using it that's effected, but also everyone in the building the correct outcome was achieved.

Sustainable - SGP as far as I'm concerned is "smoke & mirrors" and should come before the relevant authorities for Green washing.

SGP USA posted and emailed the following news release.

SGP Board Votes to Expand SGP Certification to Australia
On March 23rd, SGP's Board of Directors voted to extend certification activities to Australia. Australia is one of the most aggressive countries addressing broad sustainability issues. By extending program activities, SGP can capitalize on the country's momentum and offer printing facilities the opportunity to certify to the SGP standard. The Board adopted a roll out strategy that focused initial expansion on the major metropolitan area of Sydney, followed by Melbourne, Brisbane and the remaining areas.

Texas Aardvark, a textile screen printing company located in Sydney, successfully integrated the SGP criteria into their operation, thus illustrating to the Board of Directors that the relevancy of the SGP criteria outside North America.

The SGP Program looks forward to working with our Australian colleagues as the program is rolled out down under!

 

[Lukew]

SGP has been in Australia for a few years now.
The firm I work for have level 2 SGP at the moment & heading towards level 3 then 4.

As far as I know some of the bigger firms have achieved the level 4 iso certification but not sure how many.

 

[Green Printer]

SGP has been in Australia for a few years now.
The firm I work for have level 2 SGP at the moment & heading towards level 3 then 4.

As far as I know some of the bigger firms have achieved the level 4 iso certification but not sure how many.

Does the level 4 certification allow the same chemistry to be used as your certified level 2 facility?

 

[Lukew]

Does the level 4 certification allow the same chemistry to be used as your certified level 2 facility?

I would have to go through the folders of info to give you a definate answer, but as per the SGP discussion in the environmental section, from memory they still haven't set strict guidelines of the type of chemicals that can/can't be used.

 

[Green Printer]

I would have to go through the folders of info to give you a definate answer, but as per the SGP discussion in the environmental section, from memory they still haven't set strict guidelines of the type of chemicals that can/can't be used.

Lukew did you locate any info in the SGP paper work on the guidelines for chemicals?

 

[Lukew]

Lukew did you locate any info in the SGP paper work on the guidelines for chemicals?

This is the only info I have been able to find. No they do not set guidelines as to the type of chemicals that can/can't be used.
level 3 certification requires printers to measure their hydrocarbon emissions if applicable.
Applicabillity is:
*Heatset lithographic systems
*Lithographic presses rated to use more than 100 litres of fountain solution a day.
*Flexograpy printing rated to use more than 100 litres of flexographic inks per day.
*gravure printing rated to use more than 100 litres of gravure inks a day
*Any other printing process that is likely to emit over 100 kg of hydrocarbon emissions per day.

In the folders we have I couldn't see any further indepth info regarding level 4. But from what I can gather they haven't set any guidlines as to the type of chemicals that can be used.

 

[Green Printer]

This is the only info I have been able to find. No they do not set guidelines as to the type of chemicals that can/can't be used.
level 3 certification requires printers to measure their hydrocarbon emissions if applicable.
is:
*Heatset lithographic systems
*Lithographic presses rated to use more than 100 litres of fountain solution a day.
*Flexograpy printing rated to use more than 100 litres of flexographic inks per day.
*gravure printing rated to use more than 100 litres of gravure inks a day
*Any other printing process that is likely to emit over 100 kg of hydrocarbon emissions per day.

In the folders we have I couldn't see any further indepth info regarding level 4. But from what I can gather they haven't set any guidlines as to the type of chemicals that can be used.

These guidelines effectively remove and exempt over 80% of all printing facilities.
Lukew a 100% voc wash how many days would it take you to get to 100kg of hydrocarbon emissions. If i figured correctly that would be about 115 liters of wash. There aren't many facilities thta would use 115 liters of press wash a day.

 

[Lukew]

As I said in another post the guidlinesthat they have set, bassically ensure there are no guidlines..
What size would the lithographic press need to be to use over 100 litres of fountain solution a day?

Geez I feel sorry for the company thats using 115 litres of press wash a day on one machine... hahah what a bloody joke on behalf of SGP..

They couldn't have done a better job at making themselves look like a bunch of GREEN WASHING morons if they tryed...

 

[CD102]

Since my last posting in this thread, two more co-workers have died from cancer and two more have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancers. Now all five people had 25 years in either printing or paper-making. All 5 also smoked for at least 25 years. Two of them had quit smoking for a number of years before contracting cancer. One had pancreatic cancer, one had leukemia and one has lung cancer. Not sure what type of cancer that the other two had. But to say that I'm very concerned about my risk would be putting it mildly.

 

[Green Printer]

CD102 I see you work for Graphic Packaging part of the Coors empire. It is sad to hear about your fellow workers and your very deep concern about your own health.
What the hell is in the packaging that we as consumers are using and eating. It must also be effecting any one who uses the packaging you manufacture.
Here is a link to your companies thoughts http://www.graphicpkg.com/Documents/GPI Disclosure.pdf.
It states in a lawful and ethical manner. Exposing employees and consumers to chemicals that can cause cancer doesn't appear very ethical.

 

[CD102]

What's slavery got to do with the current discussion?

I work for Graphic Packaging now. I've been in the folding carton industry since 1977. My former plant was originally a Diamond International plant. I can't remember what year we went from Diamond to Smurfit and eventually to Smurfit-Stone. And then Smurfit-Stone tried to save itself by selling its most profitable division to venture capitalists while it retained its money-losing cardboard mills. They renamed us to Altivity and then they bought some other smaller folding carton outfits (Field Container and some company I can't remember). This was all a prelude to selling us to Graphic Packaging which closed my plant in 2009. I got hired into another Graphic Packaging plant in 2010. Two of my friends had worked previously at Federal Paper Board before gaining in employment at my old plant. So when I'm talking about the damage having been done, I'm talking about many decades and only a handful of those years were with Graphic Packaging. The type of chemicals that we used back in 70's and early 80's were more dangerous than what is used today. Why it took so long to figure out the health risks, I don't know.